Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed to display a primary game screen including a plurality of virtual reels, receive a signal indicating a wager being placed on the primary game, and initiate a bonus feature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen including a plurality of bonus features. The processor receives a signal indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonus feature game by the player, and responsive to each wager, randomly selects a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features and modifies a bonus feature image to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomly selected. The processor receives a signal to terminate the bonus feature game and initiates an instance of the primary game using the selected bonus features.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/953,171, filed Apr. 13, 2018, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming machine, a control method fora gaming machine, and a program for a gaming machine.

BACKGROUND ART

A gaming machine represented by a slot machine is highly popular amongcasino customers as a device that provides gaming that is easy to enjoy,and recent statistics report that sales from gaming machines account forthe majority of casino earnings. Initial slot machines were simpledevices, wherein an inserted coin is received, a configured reel rotatesand stops mechanically according to a handle operation, and a win or aloss is determined by a combination of symbols stopped on a single payline. However, recent gaming machines, such as mechanical slot machinesdriven by a highly accurate physical reel via a computer controlledstepping motor, video slot machines that display a virtual reel on adisplay connected to a computer, and various gaming machines that applysimilar technology to other casino games are quickly advancing. For themanufacturers that develop these gaming machines, an important theme isto provide an attractive game that strongly attracts casino customers asplayers, and improves the functionality of the gaming machine.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided.The gaming machine includes an operation unit, a display unit, a memorydevice, and a game control unit. The operation unit is configured toreceive an operation input of a player. The display unit is configuredto display game screens including computer generated graphics. Thememory device stores a game execution program that includes computerinstructions for generating a game including a primary game including aplurality of virtual reels displaying a plurality of game symbols and abonus feature selection game including a plurality of bonus featuresassociated with the primary game. The game control unit functions toexecuting the game. The game control unit includes a processorprogrammed to display a primary game screen on the display unitincluding the plurality of virtual reels and a bonus feature game icon,receive a signal from the operation unit indicating a wager being placedon the primary game by the player, and responsively initiate the bonusfeature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection gamescreen on the display unit including a plurality of bonus feature imagesassociated with each of the plurality of bonus features. The processorreceives a signal from the operation unit indicating one or more wagersbeing placed on the bonus feature game by the player, and responsive toreceiving each signal indicating a wager being placed by the player,randomly selects a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus featuresand modifies a bonus feature image associated with the selected bonusfeature to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus featurehas been randomly selected. The processor terminates the bonus featuregame in response to receiving a signal from the operation unitindicating a request to terminate the bonus feature game by the player,and initiates an instance of the primary game using the selected bonusfeatures. The processor then provides a primary game award to the playerbased on an outcome of the instance of the primary game and adjusts acredit balance associated with the player based on the primary gameaward.

In another aspect of the present invention, one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media, having computer-executable instructionsembodied thereon is provided. When executed by a processor, thecomputer-executable instructions cause the processor to display aprimary game screen including computer-generated graphics displaying aprimary game on a display unit. The primary game screen includes aplurality of virtual reels and a bonus feature game icon. The processorreceives a signal from an operation unit indicating a wager being placedon the primary game by the player and responsively initiates a bonusfeature selection game by displaying a bonus feature selection gamescreen on the display unit including a plurality of bonus feature imagesassociated with a plurality of bonus features. The processor receives asignal from the operation unit indicating one or more wagers beingplaced on the bonus feature game by the player and, responsive toreceiving each signal indicating a wager being placed by the player,randomly selects a bonus feature from the plurality of bonus features,and modifies a bonus feature image associated with the selected bonusfeature to indicate a number of times the corresponding bonus featurehas been randomly selected. The processor receives a signal from theoperation unit indicating a request to terminate the bonus feature gameby the player, terminates the bonus feature game in response to therequest, and initiates an instance of the primary game using theselected bonus features. The processor then provides a primary gameaward to the player based on an outcome of the instance of the primarygame and adjusts a credit balance associated with the player based onthe primary game award.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a mobile computingdevice is provided. The mobile computing device includes a touch displayunit, a memory device, and a processor. The touch display unit isconfigured to display game screens including computer generated graphicsand receive an operation input of a player. The memory device stores agame execution program including computer instructions for generating aprimary game including a plurality of virtual reels displaying aplurality of game symbols and a bonus feature selection game including aplurality of bonus features associated with the primary game. Theprocessor is programmed to display a primary game screen on the touchdisplay unit including the plurality of virtual reels and a bonusfeature game icon, receive a signal from the touch display unitindicating a wager being placed on the primary game by the player, andresponsively initiate the bonus feature selection game by displaying abonus feature selection game screen on the display unit including aplurality of bonus feature images associated with each of the pluralityof bonus features. The processor receives a signal from the touchdisplay unit indicating one or more wagers being placed on the bonusfeature game by the player and, responsive to receiving each signalindicating a wager being placed by the player, randomly selects a bonusfeature from the plurality of bonus features and modifies a bonusfeature image associated with the selected bonus feature to indicate anumber of times the corresponding bonus feature has been randomlyselected. The processor receives a signal from the touch display unitindicating a request to terminate the bonus feature game by the player,terminates the bonus feature game in response to the request, andinitiates an instance of the primary game using the selected bonusfeatures. The processor then provides a primary game award to the playerbased on an outcome of the instance of the primary game and adjusts acredit balance associated with the player based on the primary gameaward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the gaming machine, according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a front view of the gaming machine of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a first diagrammatic illustration of a display area of thegaming machine in FIGS. 1A-2 , according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of exemplary virtual reel strips with symbolarrangements showing the order of symbols displayed on the display area,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a figure showing the symbols displayed on the display area,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a figure showing one example of a pay line set on thedetermination area in FIG. 5 .

FIGS. 7-10 are block diagrams of a game control unit that may be usedwith to perform the function of executing a game on the gaming machineshown in FIG. 1A-2 .

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a server computer system,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a mobile computing device that may be usedwith the server computer system of FIG. 11 .

FIGS. 13-18 are flow charts illustrating the algorithms used duringoperation of the gaming machine during a game, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 19-24 are diagrammatic illustrations of a game being displayed onthe display area of the gaming machine in FIGS. 1A-1B and the mobilecomputer device shown in FIG. 12 , according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 25A-25H are diagrammatic illustrations of a sequence of graphicimages that may be used to display the game shown in FIGS. 19-24 ,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 26A-26D are diagrammatic illustrations of a sequence of graphicimages that may be used to display the game shown in FIGS. 19-24 ,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 27-36 are exemplary illustrations of computer program data filesthat may be used by the gaming machine shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and theserver system shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A gaming machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention,referencing the attached figures is described in detail below. Further,duplicated descriptions will be omitted for identical attached symbolsin identical or corresponding parts in each figure.

With reference to the drawings, and in operation, the present inventionis directed towards a gaming machine, a control method for a gamingmachine, and a program for a gaming machine and/or mobile computingdevice that provides a game to a player.

The present invention improves the functionality of existing gamingmachines by providing a game execution program including computerinstructions executed by a processor to operate a game that includes aprimary game and a bonus feature selection game that randomly selectedbonus features that are used during the primary game, and allows playersto sell and/or exchange the bonus features for credits. The presentinvention also determines the credit values associate with each bonusfeature based on the return the player associated with the use of thebonus features. Thus increasing the flexibility of providing bonuscredit awards to players during the bonus feature event, and increasingthe player's interest in playing the game.

The bonus feature selection game, also referred to as a Loot Box™feature game, allows the player to bet the primary base game bet andthen allows the payer to buy bonus feature items during loot box featurescreen. That is, the loot box feature game is incorporated into theprimary base game. The loot box feature is activated by a loot boxfeature button displayed with the primary base game. The loot boxfeature screen is appeared after game start. The player can buy and sellitems a plurality of times in the loot box feature screen. The primarygame reel spin is started after exiting the loot box feature screen.Bonus features may include a wild item feature, a multiplier itemfeature, and a free game feature. A wild symbol is added on the randomreel position, if the player had the wild item bonus feature. The basegame win is multiplied, if the player had the multiplier item. The freegame is started after base game, if the player had the free spin item.Several variations of bonus features may be included in the Loot Box™bonus feature selection game. For example, the bonus feature items haveseveral variations, including multiplier x1, Multiplier x2 . . . , 2kinds of Wild, 3 kind of Wilds . . . , 5 Free Games, 10 Free Games, ForProgressive probability upgrade, etc. In addition, any other items canbe provided for game entertainment improvement including character ofcheering group. The chance to buy a bonus feature item may be occursuddenly, if the player did not select a future. The Loot Box™ game mayalso be combined with all type of game e.g., Poker, Kino and etc.Variations of game flow for loot box and primary game and additionalfeature game may also be provided.

The gaming machine according to the present embodiment, receives apredetermined game value from the player, generates a game result, andprovides a payout to the player according to the game result and one ormore pay tables. FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are a perspective view and a frontview, respectively, of a gaming machine 10, according to the presentembodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, this gaming machine 10 providesa cabinet 12 providing an upper display 14, a lower display 16, and acontrol panel 18 and may also house a player tracking or ranking unit20. The cabinet 12 also houses a game control unit 22 (see FIG. 2 ) thatcontrols each part (see below). The control unit 22 also implements arandom number generator (RNG) that is used during operation of the game.Each configuration is described below.

The upper display 14 and the lower display 16 may be flat panel displaydevices, such as both liquid crystal display devices and organic ELdisplay devices and the like, and by controlling via each control unit22, the display area mentioned below functions as a display unit 24provided to the player.

Speakers 26 are provided on the left and right of the cabinet 12, and bycontrolling via the control unit 22, sound is provided to the player. Onthe control panel 18, a bill/ticket identification device 28, a printerdevice 30, and an operation unit 32 are provided.

The player tracking unit 20 may be housed on the center of the frontsurface of the cabinet 12 below the lower display 16. The playertracking unit 20 has a card reader that recognizes a playeridentification card, a display that presents data to the player, and akeypad that receives input by the player. This type of player trackingunit 20 reads information recorded on the player identification cardinserted by the player into the card reader, and displays theinformation and/or information acquired by communicating with theexternal system on the display, by cooperatively operating with thecontrol unit 22 mentioned below or an external system. Further, inputfrom the player is received by the keypad, the display is changedaccording to the input, and communication with the external system iscarried out as necessary.

The bill/ticket identification device 28 is disposed on the controlpanel 18 in a state where the insertion opening that a bill/ticket isinserted into is exposed, an identification part that identifies abill/ticket by various sensors on the inside of the insertion opening isprovided, and a bill/ticket storage part is provided on the outgoingside of the identification part. The bill/ticket identification device28, receives and identifies bills/tickets (including vouchers andcoupons) that are the game value as a game executing value, and notifiesthe control unit 22 mentioned below.

The printer device 30 is disposed on the control panel 18 in a statewhere the ticket output opening that a ticket is output from is exposed,a printing part that prints predetermined information on a printingpaper on the inside of the ticket output opening is provided, and ahousing part that houses the printing paper inside the paper inlet sideof the printing part is provided. The printer device 30, under thecontrol of the control unit 22 mentioned below, prints information onpaper and outputs a ticket according to credit payout processing fromthe gaming machine 10. The output ticket can use the payout credit asgame play by being inserted into the bill/ticket identification device28 of another gaming machine, or, can be exchanged for cash by a kioskterminal inside of the casino or a casino cage.

The operation unit 32 receives the operation of the player. Theoperation unit 32 includes a group of buttons 34 that receives variousinstructions from the player on the gaming machine 10. The operationunit 32, for example, may include a spin button and a group of settingbuttons. The spin button receives an instruction to start (startrotating the reel) an instance of the game. The group of setting buttons34 includes a group of bet buttons, a group of line-designation buttons,a max bet button, and a payout button and the like. The group of betbuttons receives an instruction operation regarding the bet amount ofcredits (bet number) from the player. The group of line-designationbuttons receive an instruction operation that designate a pay linesubjected to a line judgment below from the player. The max bet buttonreceives an instruction operation regarding the bet of the maximumamount of credits that can be bet at one time from the player. Thepayout button receives an instruction operation instructing a creditpayout accumulated in the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 alsoincludes illumination devices 36 that provides decorative lighting tothe gaming machine 10.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the control panel 18includes a plurality of user input devices that may include an acceptordevice which accepts media associated with a monetary value to establisha credit balance, a validator configured to identify the physical media,a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payoutassociated with the credit balance. The acceptor device may include atouchscreen display associated with the display unit 24 and/or theplayer tracking unit 20, the paper money/ticket identification device28, the operation unit 32, the player tracking unit 20, a coin slot, aticket in ticket out (TITO) system, a bill acceptor, and/or any suitabledevice that enables the gaming machine 10 to receive media associatedwith a monetary value and establish a credit balance for use in playingthe gaming machine 10. In one embodiment, the acceptor device may beconfigured to receive physical media such as, for example, a coin, amedal, a ticket, a card, a boll, currency, and/or any suitable physicalmedia that enables the gaming machine 10 to function as describedherein. The acceptor device may also be configured to accept virtualmedia such as, for example, a player tracking account, a virtual creditbalance, reward points, gaming credits, bonus points, and/or anysuitable virtual media that enables the gaming machine 10 to function asdescribed herein.

For example, in one embodiment, the coin slot may include an openingthat is configured to receive coins and/or tokens deposited by theplayer into the gaming machine 10. The control unit 22 converts a valueof the coins and/or tokens to a corresponding amount of gaming creditsthat are used by the player to wager on games played on the gamingmachine 10. The bill acceptor may include an input and output devicethat is configured to accept a bill, a ticket, and/or a cash card intothe bill acceptor to enable an amount of gaming credits associated witha monetary value of the bills, ticket, and/or cash card to be creditedto the gaming machine 10. In one embodiment, the bill acceptor alsoincludes a printer (not shown) that is configured to dispense a printedvoucher ticket that includes information indicative of an amount ofcredits and/or money paid out to the player by the gaming machine 10during a gaming session. The voucher ticket may be used at other gamingdevices, or redeemed for cash, and/or other items as part of a casinocashless system.

With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2 , further on the inside of cabinet12, a control board equipped with a central processing unit 38(abbreviated as CPU below) including a processor that configures thecontrol unit 22, an interface unit (or part) 40, a memory 42 and astorage 44 and the like are incorporated. The control board isconfigured so that communication is possible through the interface unit40 and each of the components equipped on the cabinet 12, controls theoperation of each part by executing the program recorded in the memory42 or the storage 44 of the CPU 38, and provides a game to the player.The function of the CPU 38 is to execute and display the game on thedisplays 14, 16 of the gaming machine 10.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the gaming machine 10,according to the present embodiment. The gaming machine 10 provides thecontrol unit 22. The control unit 22 is configured as the interface unit40 including a chip set providing communication functions of the CPU 38,a memory bus connected to a CPU 38, various expanding buses, serialinterfaces, USB interfaces, Ethernet (registered trademark) interfacesand the like, and a computer unit where the CPU 38 provides theaddressable memory 42 and the storage 44 through the interface unit 40.The memory 42 can be configured to include RAM that is a volatilestorage medium, ROM that is a nonvolatile storage medium, and EEPROMthat is a rewritable nonvolatile storage medium. The storage 44 providesthe control unit 22 as an external storage device function, can usereading devices such as a memory card that is a removable storagemedium, and a magneto optical disk and the like, and can use hard disks.

On the interface unit 40, in addition to the CPU 38, the memory 42, andthe storage 44, a bill/ticket identification unit controller 46, aprinter unit controller 48, the player tracking unit 20, a graphiccontroller 50, an input controller 52, and a sound controller 54 areconnected. That is, the control unit 22 is connected to the operationunit 32 through the input controller 52, and connected to the upperdisplay 14 and/or the lower display 16 through the graphic controller50. Further, when illumination devices 36 that provides decorativelighting to the gaming machine 10 is provided, the illumination iscontrolled under the control of the control unit 22 on the interfaceunit 40, and an illumination controller 56 that controls theillumination devices 36 to provide a decorative lighting effect may beconnected.

The control unit 22, which includes memory 42 and storage 44, controlseach part by executing a program stored in the memory 42 and the storage44, and provides a game to the player. Here, for example, the memory 42and storage 44 may be configured to store a program and data of anoperating system and subsystem that provide the basic functions of thecontrol unit 22 to the EEPROM of the memory 42, and stores a program anddata of an application that provides a game to the storage 44. Accordingto such a configuration, it can be easy to change or update a game byreplacing the storage 44. Further, the control unit 22 may be amultiprocessor configuration that has a plurality of CPUs.

Each block connected to the control unit 22 is described below. Thebill/ticket identification unit controller 46 operates the bill/ticketidentification device 28 to receive bills/tickets in the insertionopening, and notifies the control unit 22 of identifying informationcorresponding to the assortment of bills or the payout processing ofcredits. The bill/ticket identification unit controller 46 notifies theinformation to the control unit 22, and the control unit 22 increasesthe usable credit amount inside of the game according to the notifiedcontent. The printer unit controller 48 corresponds to the printerdevice 30, and under the control of the control unit 22 that receives anoperation of the payout button of the group of setting buttons 34,information corresponding to the credit payout processing from thegaming machine 10 is printed and output on a printed ticket.

The player ranking (or tracking unit) unit 20 cooperatively operateswith the control unit 22, and sends and receives information and thelike of the player from the casino management system. The graphiccontroller 50 controls the upper display 14 and the lower display 16,under the control of the control unit 22, and displays a display imagethat includes various graphic data. The sound controller 54 drives thespeakers 26 under the control of the control unit 22, and providesvarious sounds such as an announcement, sound effects, BGM and the like.

Further, the interface unit 40, has various communication interfaces forcommunicating with the exterior of the gaming machine 10, for examplethe interface unit 40 can communicate with an external network byEthernet 58, 60, and a serial interface 62. In the present embodiment,one example shows when there is communication between a well-knownserver side gaming network (Server Based Gaming of FIG. 2 ), a G2Snetwork (Game to System of FIG. 2 ), and a slot information system (SlotData System of FIG. 2 ), respectively.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a display area 64 provided by the gamingmachine 10. Such a display area 64 is displayed on the display unit 24(the upper display 14 and/or the lower display 16) by the control unit22 executing a predetermined program. In the illustrated embodiment, thedisplay area 64 is displayed on the lower display 16. For instance, asshown, during a game, the upper display 14 may be utilized to displaygame related information, e.g., game title information and/or graphics.

In one aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine 10 provides avideo slot game using a plurality of virtual reels 66. The video slotgame utilizes a grid 68 in the display area 64. The illustratedembodiment shows the state of displaying the display area 64 in thelower display 16. As shown in FIG. 3 , the display area 64 includes thegrid 68 for displaying symbols. By using such a display area, the gamingmachine 10 of the present embodiment operates as a slot machine thatpays a payout according to a winning combination of symbols displayed onthe display area 64.

The display unit 24 displays a plurality of symbols in the grid 68. Thegrid 68 has a plurality of rows (r) and columns (c). The grid 68 isconfigured by a plurality of cells 70 that are the stop position ofsymbols.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the grid 68 may be displayed on the lowerdisplay 16. The upper display 14 may be used to display animationsand/or game identifying information during the game and/or during anattract mode. Further, the display unit 24 can display a decorativearea, and an area that displays credit amount, bet number, and a creditamount obtained by winning (WIN number) and the like, outside of thegrid 68. On each of the plurality of cells 70 of the display area 64,one symbol is stopped and displayed.

On each cell 70 of the grid 68, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , a symbol isdisplayed based on the symbol arrangement of virtual reels 66 includingvirtual reel strips 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 configured as a virtual reelset 82. That is, the cells 70 of the grid 68 correspond to the virtualreel strips 72 to 80 by column, and the symbols disposed onpredetermined parts of each virtual reel strip 72 to 80 are displayed.Furthermore, by moving (scrolling or spinning) each symbol by columnbased on the symbol arrangement of the virtual reel strips 72 to 80, thesymbols displayed in the cells 70 of the grid 68 change, and by stoppingthe movement (scrolling or spinning) by columns, the symbols arestopped. Here, the virtual reel strips 72 to 80 are data where thecontrol unit 22 uses a program having the memory 42 or the storage 44,and data showing the symbol arrangement (i.e., the order of symbols oneach reel strip) regulated by each cell column. Further, the virtualreel set 82 is a general term for such virtual reel strips 72 to 80.

Each virtual reel strip 72 to 80, in the examples of FIG. 4 , may beconfigured by 20 symbols 84 in respective symbol positions 86, and thosesymbols are aligned in an order defined by each reel. FIG. 5 is thedetails of symbols 84 of the figure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . Eachvirtual reel strip 72 to 80 includes symbols selected from a symbol set88 of varieties of symbols 84 shown in FIG. 5 . This symbol set 88includes card symbols (“9”, “10”, “J”, “Q”, “K”, and “A”) that imitateplaying cards as regular symbols, and picture symbols (“PicA”, “PicB”,“PicC”, and “PicD”) that show a pattern. Further, this symbol set 88includes a wild symbol (“Wild”) that is substituted as another symbolwhen a win combination is determined and a trigger symbol (“Trigger”)that may be used to determine if a game feature is to be provided. Eachof these symbols have a different rank from each other regarding theirvalue when winning, their rank gradually raises in this order: “9”,“10”, “J”, “Q”, “K”, “A”, “PicE”, “PicD”, “PicC”, “PicB”, “PicA”. Acombination of symbols that includes high-ranking symbols when winning,can obtain a larger winning payout compared to a combination oflow-ranking symbols when winning.

Returning to FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, some of the symbol positionshave a fixed symbol and others of the symbol positions have a varyingsymbol, represented by a varying inner symbol 90 (“inn”). In theillustrated embodiment, for each play of the game, the fixed symbolpositions have an associated predefined symbol from the set of symbols84, and the varying symbol 90 has a symbol that is randomly selectedfrom the symbol set 88. For example, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, for each play of a game, one of the symbols from a sub-groupof symbols included in the symbol set 88 is randomly selected andassociated/displayed in the varying symbol positions 86. The sub-groupmay include, for example, “PicA”, “PicB”, “PicC”, “PicD”, “PicE”, “A”,“K”, “Q”, “J”, “10”, and “9”. In one embodiment, the same randomlyselected symbol from the second sub-group of symbols is associated withor displayed in the varying symbol positions.

In another aspect of the present invention, all of the varying symbolpositions or feature symbol positions (indicated as “inn”) are arrangedin groups (or stacks) of adjacent symbol positions (within a reelstrip).

It should be noted that in one aspect of the present invention, one ormore dynamic virtual reel strips may be utilized. Using virtual reelstrips, the symbols and/or symbol positions and/or virtual reel stripsand/or length or size and/or any aspect of a virtual reel strip maychange from one spin or play to the next. For example, a dynamic reelstrip includes a plurality of symbol positions with symbols from thesymbol set 88 and a plurality of varying symbol positions (“inn”). Thevarying symbol positions may be in the form of one or more stacks, i.e.,adjacent symbol positions. In one embodiment, the location and/or sizeof the stacks may change from one spin to the next, either randomlyand/or in a predetermined pattern.

Alternatively, a virtual reel strip associated with a cell 70 (or columnof cells 70) may be dynamically changed from one spin or play to anotherspin or play. This, may occur randomly, every spin or play and/or in apredetermined pattern.

It should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, each column ofthe grid 68 has a corresponding reel strip. When the reel strip stops, asymbol from the respective reel strip appears in each one of the cellsof the respective column of the grid 68. One or more of the reel strip72 to 80 may be identical or all of the reel strip 72 to 80 may bedifferent.

In an alternative embodiment, however, each cell 70 of the grid 68 has arespective independent reel that may spin independently of the otherreels. Each cell 70 of the grid 68 may, thus, have an independent reelwith a corresponding virtual reel strip 72 to 80. The virtual reel set82 may include different number of virtual reel strips in such a case.For example, in an example in which a 3×5 grid is utilized, each cell 70would have an associated virtual reel strip, so fifteen reel stripswould be utilized. As above, one or more of the fifteen virtual reelstrips may be identical or all reel strips may be different.

In the next several embodiments, the present invention will be describedwith respect to a 3×5 grid, however, it should be noted that the presentinvention is not limited to a grid with any specific size and/or shape.

In general, the control unit 22 starts a game and determines the stopposition of each virtual reel strip 72 to 80 randomly. The virtual reelstrips 72 to 80 that are displayed in the display unit 24 (for example,the lower display 16) are moved from a current position, and stoppedbased on a stop position to express an outcome of the game. Due to this,in the display or grid 68, the symbols included on the virtual reelstrips 72 to 80 are continuously moved (scrolled or spun) in a verticaldirection of the display area 64, and one symbol of one cell 70 isaligned in an order of the symbol based on the symbol arrangement isstopped so that it is displayed.

The control unit 22 changes and stops the plurality of symbols displayedon the display unit 24 according to the operation of the player receivedby the operation unit 32, and a payout may be paid according to thestopped symbols inside the display area 64.

In the display area 64, a pay line is set that is used when winning isdetermined. The pay line is set to be extended over the column on theright end from the cells of the column of the left end, and is a linethat combines the plurality of cells 70 determining a win. The number ofeffective lines within the set pay line is selected by the operation ofa group of line designation buttons included in the group of settingbuttons 34 of the operation unit 32 for the player. The control unit 22,in regards to the result of a game that is a combination of symbols,determines a win when a predetermined number of identical symbols issurpassed and aligned on a set pay line, and pays a payout to the playeraccording to the type and number of symbols. On the gaming machine 10 ofthe present embodiment, a predetermined number of pay lines (LINE 1-40)of cells with three rows and five columns in the display area 64 is set(see FIG. 3 ). The system for determining a win may determine a win whena predetermined number of identical symbols from cells of the column onthe left end are aligned on a set pay line, may determine a win when apredetermined number of identical symbols from cells of the column onthe right end are aligned on a set pay line, and may determine a winwhen a predetermined number of identical symbols are aligned on acontinuous column on a predetermined pay line. In addition, more than apredetermined number of the “Trigger” form a win combination or triggercondition regardless of the pay line.

It should be noted that pay lines shown other than (or in addition to)the pay lines shown in FIG. 6 may be used. In general, the pay linesshown in FIG. 6 start in the first column and end in the last column,and include one cell per column. However, one or more pay lines couldinclude one or more cells in the same column and may include a verticalpay line.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10 , in the illustrated embodiment, the memory 42stores a game application program 92 that includes computer executableinstructions that, when executed by the processor 38, cause theprocessor 38 to generate and display the game on the display unit 24 ofthe gaming machine 10. In one embodiment, the game application program92 includes program code 94 and program object data 96 that includescomputer executable instructions for implementing a game using thealgorithms shown in FIGS. 13-18 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the memory 42 stores the game applicationprogram 92 and a system application program 98 that includes computerexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processor 38, causethe processor 38 to generate and display the game on the display unit 24of the gaming machine 10. The application program 92 provides gamespecific/front-end functions and the system application 98 programprovides generic/back-end functions, when executed by the processor 38.In the illustrated embodiment, the application program 92 and the systemapplication program 98 are implemented on the same operating system.However, it should be noted that these programs may be implemented ondifferent operating system and/or by different processors. In oneembodiment, the game application program 92 includes a plurality ofsoftware modules including a bet/payline button listener module 100, astart button listener module 102, a credit balance manager module 104, asampling manager 106, a random number generator 108, a comparisonmanager 110, a game result generator 112, a win evaluator 114, a gamepresentator 116, a game graphics presentator 118, a game soundpresentator 120, a win indicator 122, an award provider 124, anapplication manager 126, an external communicator 128, an items manager129, and a loot box manager 131. The game application program 92 mayalso include a pay table 130, a reel layout table 132, a stop positiontable 134, a bonus feature table 136, an inner symbol table 138, and amultiplier feature table 140, a prize symbol table 141, and an eventsymbol table 143.

The bet/payline button listener module 100 is a software module forreceiving a signal from the bet button or the payline button which isgenerated by the button when a player operates the button to selectnumber of bet or number of paylines. In response to receiving thesignal, the bet/payline button listener module 100 communicates theoccurrence of the signal to application manager 126 for changing bet orpayline configuration of the game.

The start button listener module 102 is a software module for receivinga signal from the start button which is generated by the button when aplayer operates the button to start a game. In response to receiving thesignal, the start button listener module 102 communicates the occurrenceof the signal to application manager 126 for starting the game.

In response to receiving the signal from start button listener module102, the application manager 126 requests the sampling manager 106 toobtain necessary number of random numbers from the random numbergenerator 108.

The random number generator 108 generates random numbers based onpredetermined algorithm of computational random generation method. Therandom number generator 108 may be a pseudorandom generator. In responseto a request from sampling manager 106, the random number generator 108returns random number. In some implementations, the random numbergenerator 108 may be implemented in a central server. The random numbergenerator 108 may be implemented as an integrated circuit or hard wiredlogic.

The comparison manager 110 compares the current state of the game oreach random number with the reel layout table 132, the stop positiontable 134, the bonus feature table 136, the inner symbol table 138, themultiplier feature table 140, the prize symbol table 141, and/or theevent symbol table 143 and specifies corresponding reel layout, stopposition, prize symbol, inner symbol or event symbol based on eachrandom number.

The reel layout table 132 (also shown in FIG. 27 ) includes a set ofvirtual reels strips for a primary game and a free game bonus. Thecomparison manager 110 inquires the application manager to identifycurrent state of the game and select the sets of virtual reel strips.

The stop position table 134 (also shown in FIG. 28 ) includes a randomnumber range associated with each stop position of a virtual reel strip.The comparison manager 110 identify a stop position of each reel basedon corresponding random number and the stop position table 134.

The bonus feature tables 136 (also shown in FIGS. 29-30 ) includes arandom number range and/or selection probability associated with aplurality of bonus features. The comparison manager 110 identify a bonusfeature based on corresponding random number and the bonus featuretables 136.

The inner symbol table 138 (also shown in FIG. 31 ) includes a randomnumber range associated with each stop position of a virtual inner reel.The comparison manager 110 identifies a stop position of the virtualinner reel based on corresponding random number and the inner symboltable 138.

The multiplier feature tables 140 (also shown in FIGS. 32-33 ) includesa random number range and/or selection probability associated with aplurality of multiplier values. The comparison manager 110 identifies amultiplier value based on corresponding random number and the multiplierfeature tables 140.

The prize symbol table 141 and event symbol table 143 includes a randomnumber range and/or selection probability associated with a plurality ofprize symbols and event symbols, respectively, that are used ingenerating a reel strip layout.

The game result generator 112 generates game result based on selectedreel layout, stop positions of each reel, stop position of inner symbol,and bonus features.

The win evaluator 114 evaluates the game result with reference to thepay table 130.

The game presentator 116 provides game presentation process with visualand sound so as to form the predetermined game result finally.

The game graphics presentator 118 provides visual game presentationprocess on the display so as to form the predetermined game resultfinally.

The game sound presentator 120 provides sound presentation process byusing sound controller and speakers.

The win indicator 122 indicates win combinations and payment conditionof prize symbol formed in the game result.

The award provider 124 provides award credit to win meter based on thewin evaluation.

The application manager 126 administrates activity and status of eachsoftware module. In addition, the application manager 126 administratesconfiguration, progress and states of the game application program 92.

The external communicator 128 communicates instruction and data with thesystem application program 98.

The credit balance manager module 104 executes a process fordecrementing credit balance and incrementing credit balance based on winamount displayed in win meter.

The pay table 130 includes a prize associated with each win combination.

The loot box manager module 131 functions to execute the bonus featureselection game (shown in FIGS. 19-26D) by executing the algorithms shownin FIGS. 13-18 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the system application program 98provides back ground processing and functions other than game specificfunctions. The system application program 98 includes a plurality ofsoftware modules including a system manager 142, a security manager 144,a slot management module 146, a denomination manager 148, a data logger150, a communications manager 152, a bill acceptor manager 154, ametering module 156, and a cashout manager 158.

The system application program 98 may also include a game recall file160, accounting logs 162, and meters 164.

The system manager 142 is a software module for administrating all ofthe back ground processing and functions other than game specificfunctions conducted by the system application program 98.

The security manager 144 is a software module for administrating gameverification, door security and monitoring security sensors.

The slot management module 146 is a software module for administratingdata accumulation and communicating with external slot informationsystem 62.

The denomination manager 148 is a software module for establishingdenomination setting of the gaming machine 10. The denomination settingmay include 1 cent, 2 cent, 5 cent, 25 cent, 1 dollar, 5 dollar and thelike.

The data logger 150 is a software module for logging result of eachprimary game and the free game bonus to the game recall. In addition,the data logger 150 stores error events, bill log, cashout log, ticketlog etc. to the accounting log.

The game recall file 160 is an accumulated data including results ofeach primary game and free game bonus. The game recall file 160 isstored in a non-volatile memory.

The accounting logs 162 is an accumulated data including error events,bill log, cashout log, ticket log etc. The accounting logs 162 arestored in a non-volatile memory.

The communications manager 152 is a software module for administratingcommunication between game application program 92 and system applicationprogram 98. The communications manager 152 also administrates networkcommunication between system application program 98 and external networksuch as slot management system network, G2S network, gaming server forserver based gaming network or VLT system network.

The bill acceptor manager 154 is a software module for administratingthe bill acceptor and receives bill information inserted in the billacceptor. In response to receiving the information from the billacceptor, the bill acceptor manager 154 communicates with the meteringfor incrementing credit balance based on the inserted bill.

The metering module 156 is a software module for adjusting values of themeters 164 in response to communication with the game applicationprogram 92 via communications manager 152, the bill acceptor manager 154or the cashout manager 158. The meters 164 includes a credit meter forindicating current credit balance on the gaming machine and an win meterfor indicating win amount of current game session. The meters furtherinclude back ground meters such as coin-in, coin-out, total drop,attendant paid jackpots and/or bill-in. These meters might beimplemented as data on the non-volatile memory or hardware meters.

The cashout manager 158 is a software module for administrating cashoutprocedure. In response to a player's operation on the cashout button,the cashout manager 158 is activated and the gaming machine pay totalamount of the credit meter.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 , in one embodiment, the present inventionsincludes an networked server computer system 166 that is configured todeliver the game to one or more client computing devices 168 over theInternet. In the illustrated embodiment, the networked computer system166 includes an iGaming server system 170 that is coupled incommunication with one or more client computing devices 168 via acommunications network 172. The communications network 172 may be anysuitable connection, including the Internet, an Intranet, LAN, a virtualprivate network (VPN), cellular networks, etc. . . . , and may utilizeany suitable or combination of technologies including, but not limitedto wired and wireless connections, always on connections, connectionsmade periodically, and connections made as needed.

The client computing device 168 may include any suitable device thatenables a user to access and communicate with the server system 170including sending and/or receiving information to and from the serversystem 170 and displaying information received from the server system170 to a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the client computingdevice 168 includes a processor coupled to a memory device. The memorydevice stores various programs and data that are executed by theprocessor for operating the client computing device 168. The clientcomputing device 168 also includes an input device configured to receiveoperational inputs from the user, and a display device configured todisplay a graphical user interface. The input device and display deviceenable a user to interact with the server system 170 via the clientcomputing device 168. For example, in one embodiment, the clientcomputing device 168 may include, but is not limited to, a desktopcomputer, a laptop or notebook computer, a tablet computer,smartphone/tablet computer hybrid, a personal data assistant, a handheldmobile device including a cellular telephone, and the like. In oneembodiment, the processor of the client computing device 168 may beprogrammed to function as the control unit 22 of the gaming machine 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the client computing device may include aweb browser program stored in the memory device. The processor executesthe web browser program to display web pages on the display device thatincludes information received from the server system 170 to enable auser to interact with and operate the server system 170.

In one embodiment, the client computing device 168 includes a mobilecomputing device 174 (shown in FIG. 12 ) such as, for example, a tabletcomputer, a smartphone/tablet computer hybrid, a smartphone such as aniPhone™, and the like. The mobile computing device 174 includes aprocessor coupled to a memory device for storing various programs anddata for use in operating the mobile computing device 174. The mobilecomputing device 174 may also include a touchscreen display unit 176,one or more video image cameras, one or more speakers, a microphone, atleast one input button, and one or more sensors including, but notlimited to, a touch ID fingerprint sensor coupled to an input button, abarometer, a three-axis gyro, an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and anambient light sensor. In addition, the mobile computing device 174 mayalso include a Wi-Fi antenna, a cellular network antenna, a Bluetooth™communications device, assisted GPS and GLONASS, a digital compass, andan iBeacon™ microlocation device.

The mobile computing device 174 may be programmed to store and executemobile computer program applications that display graphical userinterfaces 178 on the touchscreen display unit 176 including displayarea 64 that allows the user to access the server system 170 to retrieveand store information within the server system 170 as well as interactwith and operate the server system 170. In addition, in one embodiment,the server system 170 may install one or more mobile computerapplication programs in the memory device of the mobile computing device174. When initiated by the processor of the mobile computing device 174,the mobile computer application program causes the processor of themobile computing device 174 to perform some or all of the functions ofthe gaming machine 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the server system 170 includes one ormore remote gaming servers 180, one or more back-end servers 182, one ormore real money gaming web site hosting servers 184, and one or moresocial gaming website hosting servers 186. In the illustratedembodiment, the social gaming website hosting server 186 and the realmoney gaming website hosting server 184 are programmed to host a websitethat is accessible by a user via one or more client computing devices168. The website hosting servers 184 and 186 execute a websiteapplication program that retrieves application code from the back-endserver 182 and executes the application code to render one or morewebpages on a display device of a client computing device 168 inresponse to requests received from the user via the client computingdevice 168 to allow users to interact with the website. The websitehosting servers 184 and 186 are configured to generate and displaywebpages displaying a game. For example, the real money gaming websitehosting server 184 is configured to host a real money wagering websitethat enables players to convert monetary funds to gaming credits thatmay be used to place wagers on the game. The social gaming websitehosting server 186 is configure to host a social media and/or socialgaming website that allows players to receive gaming credits foractivities such as purchasing goods and/or services through ane-commerce website, and/or purchase gaming credits that may be used toplay the game.

Each back-end server 182 is configured to perform operations to supportthe functions of the webpages and/or website being displayed by thewebsite hosting servers 184 and 186. For example, in one embodiment, theback-end servers 182 may include a player account system server that isconfigured to generate player accounts that include data associated witha player including, but not limited to, player identificationinformation, player financial account information, player gaming creditaccount information, and/or any suitable player information, that may beused to establish credit meters and allow players to place wagers on thegame.

Each remote gaming server 180 includes one or more copies of the gameapplication program 92 stored in a memory device of the remote gamingserver 180. A processor of the remote gaming server 180 is programmed toretrieve and transmit the game application program 92 to one or moreback-end servers 182 for use in displaying the game to the user via awebpage being displayed by the web browser program.

In one embodiment, the game application program 92 may includeinstructions for rendering the game and executing the game on the clientcomputing device 168. For example, the game application program 92 mayinclude instructions for generating rendered code, such as, for exampleHTML code, that may be used by the web browser program of the clientcomputing device 168 for displaying the game. For example, the gameapplication program 92 may include program software code including, butnot limited to, HTML, JavaScript, cascade style sheets (CSS), and anysuitable programming code that may be used for rendering and operatingthe game via a website and/or mobile computer application.

In one embodiment, upon receiving a request from the website hostingservers 184, 186 via the back-end server 182, the remote gaming server180 may execute the game application program 92 to operate the game, andexecute a render-to-string operation to generate rendered codeindicative of the game, such as, for example HTML code, and transmit therendered code to the back-end server 182. The back-end server 182 maythen transmit the rendered code to the corresponding website hostingservers 184, 186 for use in displaying the game on the website. As theplayer plays the game, the remote gaming server 180 may execute the gameapplication program 92 for each instance of the game, and transitrendered code to the back-end servers 182.

In another embodiment, the remote gaming server 180 may transmit thegame application program 92 to the back-end server 182 and/or thewebsite hosting servers 184, 186. The back-end server 182 and/or thewebsite hosting servers 184, 186 may then execute the game applicationprogram 92 to initiate the instances of the game and executerender-to-string operations to generate rendered code indicative of thegame.

In yet another embodiment, the back-end server 182 may receive a requestto initiate the game from a mobile computing device 174 executing themobile computer application program. Upon receiving the request, theback-end server 182 may access the game application program 92 andexecute a render-to-string operation to generate rendered codeindicative of the game and transmit the rendered code to the mobilecomputing device 174. In one embodiment, the back-end server 182 maycontinuously execute the game application program 92 to generated eachinstance of the game using a random number generator of the back-endserver 182 based on input received from the mobile computing device 174and generate and transmit rendered code for each instance of the game tothe mobile computing device 174. In another embodiment, the back-endserver 182 may execute a partial-render operation and generatepartially-rendered code of the game using the game application program92, and transmit the partially rendered code of the game and object dataof game assets to the mobile computing device 174. The partiallyrendered code includes instructions for generating rendered code usingthe game assets and a random number generator of the mobile computingdevice for generating and displaying the game on the mobile computingdevice 174 using the mobile computer application program.

In one embodiment, the game application program 92 may be stored onseveral different servers. The game code on these servers is used todistribute game content to social or real money gaming websites andmobile applications. The distribution method is very flexible. Forexample, the game code and/or game application program 92 including gamecode and game object assets may be stored on a remote gaming server 180.One remote gaming server 180 may be connected to one or more back-endserver 182.

Each back-end server 182 is configured to distribute the games to one ormore websites or mobile applications. Players connect to thesewebsites/mobile applications with the client devices or mobile devicesand have access to the game content. A copy of game application program92 including game code and game object assets is stored on the remotegaming server 180 for each back-end server 182 that is connected to theremote gaming server 180 and that distributes the game. For example, ifone remote gaming server 180 is connected to two back-end servers 182,which is connected to three website hosting servers 184, 186 thatdistribute the game, the remote gaming server 180 would store two copiesof the game application program 92 including game code and game objectassets for the game (e.g. one copy for each back-end server 182).

For example, the server system 170 may be configured to implement thegame on a mobile application such as, for example, “my KONAMI Slots™”mobile application available in Apple iOS™, Google Android™, and AmazonKindle™ operating platforms, or on social-media websites such as the “myKONAMI Slots™” available on Facebook™. In one embodiment, the mobileapplication may download the game code from remote gaming server 180 viathe real money gaming site 184 or the social gaming site 186 and executethe game code on the client computing device 168. In this embodiment,the game code may provide game specific/front-end function when executedby the processor of the client computing device, and the back end system182 may provide generic/back-end function.

FIGS. 13-18 are flow charts of methods 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800illustrating the algorithms included in the game application program 92and performed by the processor 38 when executing the game applicationprogram 92 for operating the gaming machine 10 and/or iGaming serversystem 170 to implement the game. The methods include a plurality ofsteps. Each method step may be performed independently of, or incombination with, other method steps. Portions of the methods may beperformed by any one of, or any combination of, the components of thegaming machine 10 and/or iGaming server system 170. FIGS. 19-26D arediagrammatic illustrations of a game being displayed on the display areaof the gaming machine in FIGS. 1A-1B and the mobile computer deviceshown in FIG. 12 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 27-36 are exemplary illustrations of computer program data filesthat may be used by processor 38 when executing the game applicationprogram 92.

In the illustrated embodiment, the game execution program 92 includescomputer instructions for generating a primary game that includes abonus feature selection game that includes a plurality of bonus featuresthat may be used during the primary game. In general, the bonus featuregame provides randomly selected bonus features that are used during theprimary game. In addition, the bonus feature game provides an option tothe player to sell one or more randomly selected bonus features inexchange for a credit value associated with the bonus feature, andawards the credit value to the player if the player elects to sell theselected bonus feature. In one embodiment, the primary game includes areel-type game that includes a plurality of virtual reels that spin andstop to display the outcomes of the primary game. The bonus featuresincluded in the bonus feature game may include, for example, wildsymbols, free spins, award multipliers, progressive multipliers, and/orany suitable feature that may be implemented with the primary game. Inother embodiments, the primary game may include a playing card game, abingo game, a Keno game, and/or any suitable casino type wagering game.

Referring to FIG. 13 , in the illustrated embodiment, in method step302, the processor 38 displays a primary game screen 188 (shown in FIGS.3 and 25A) in the display area 64 of the display unit 24. The primarygame screen 188 is displayed with a bonus feature game icon 190 thannotifies the player of a bonus feature selection game 200 (shown inFIGS. 19-25H) that may be implemented with the primary game 202. Thebonus feature game icon may also appear in one of the buttons 34positioned on the control panel 18. In the illustrated embodiment, theprimary game 202 is displayed with the plurality of virtual reel strips72 to 80 on the lower display 16.

In one embodiment, the player may transmit a request to implement thebonus feature selection game 200 may touching the bonus feature gameicon 190 being displayed on a touchscreen of the display unit 24 and/ordepressing a corresponding button 34 on the operation unit 32 that isdisplaying the bonus feature game icon 190. Upon receiving a signal fromthe display unit 24 and/or the operation unit 32, the processor 38initiates the bonus feature game 200 and modifies the bonus feature gameicon 190 to notify the player.

In method step 304, the processor 38 receives a signal from theoperation unit 32 indicating a wager being placed on the primary game202 by the player, and responsively initiates the bonus featureselection game 200 by displaying a bonus feature selection game screen204 (shown in FIGS. 19-25H) on the display unit 24. The bonus featureselection game screen 204 includes a plurality of bonus feature images206 that are associated with a plurality of bonus features 208 that maybe used during the primary game 202.

In the illustrated embodiment, upon initiating the bonus feature game200, the processor 38 generates a bonus feature data table 210 (shown inFIG. 35 ) including data records 212 associated with the plurality ofbonus features 208. Each data record 212 is associated with acorresponding bonus feature 208 and includes a credit value 214, afeature counter 216 indicating a number of times the corresponding bonusfeature 208 has been selected during the bonus feature game 200, and atotal credit value 214. The total credit value 214 is determined as aproduct of the feature counter 216 and the credit value 214.

In one embodiment, the processor 38 generates the bonus feature datatable 210 by accessing the bonus feature table 136 that includes therecords associated with each bonus feature 208 including a selectionprobability 218, a credit value 214, and a return to player value 220.The return to player value 220 indicates an average rate of returnprovided to the player when the instance of the primary game 202includes the corresponding bonus features.

In one embodiment, the processor 38 determines the credit value 214associated with each bonus feature 208 by accessing a return-to-playerdata table 222 (shown in FIG. 34 ) that includes a bonus feature gamedata record 224 associated with the bonus feature selection game 200 anda primary game data record 226 associated with the primary game 202. Thebonus feature game data record 224 includes a feature game bet value anda feature game return to player value associated with the bonus featureselection game 200 (e.g. the “Loot box feature”). The primary game datarecord 226 includes a primary game bet value and a primary game returnto player value associated with the primary game 202. The processor 38retrieves the bonus feature game record 224 and generates a bonusfeature expected return data table 228 (shown in FIG. 30 ). The bonusfeature expected return data table 228 includes a selection probability218, an expected return to player value 230, and a feature return toplayer value 220 associated with each bonus feature 208. The processor38 calculates the expected return to player value 230 associated witheach bonus feature 208 based on the feature game return to player valueincluded in the bonus feature game data record 224, and calculates theexpected return to player value 230 of each bonus feature 208 as thequotient of the corresponding feature return to player value 220 dividedby the corresponding selection probability 218. For example, in oneembodiment, a “Wild” bonus feature 208 may include a selectionprobability 218 equal to 12.5% and a feature return to player value 220equal to 31.25%. The processor 38 calculates the expected return toplayer value 230 of the “Wild” bonus feature 208 to be 250.00% (i.e.0.3125/0.125=2.50, or 250.00%). The processor 38 then calculates thecredit value 214 associated with the bonus feature 208 as the product ofthe expected return to player value 230 and the feature game bet valueincluded in the bonus feature game data record 224. For example, asshown in FIG. 29 , the processor 38 calculates the credit value 214(e.g. Selling price) for the “Wild” bonus feature 208 to be 250 credits(i.e. 2.50×100 credits=250 credits). FIG. 29 further shows the creditvalue 214 for the “Multiplier” bonus feature 246 to be 500 credits, thecredit value 214 for the “Free Spin” bonus feature 248 to be 150 creditsand the credit value 214 for the “Lose” bonus feature 250 to be 5credits. These credit values are calculated in the same manner as thatof “Wild” bonus feature 208. In one embodiment, all or a part of thevalues and tables mentioned in this document might be predetermined andimplemented as data files stored in the program data 96 folder stored inthe memory 42 of the gaming machine 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the bonus feature table 136 illustratedthe probability of each bonus feature item in the box, the selling priceof each bonus feature item 208 and, and the Return to Player when theplayer sells each bonus feature item 208. The player has an option tosell the bonus feature items 208 and an option to bring the bonusfeature items 208 to a subsequent base game.

As shown in FIG. 30 , bonus feature expected return data table 228,shows the probability of each bonus feature item 208 in the feature game200, the Expected return to player of a subsequent base game when theplayer applies each bonus feature item 208, and the Return to Player ofeach bonus feature item 208 calculated by multiplication of probabilityand Expected return to player. The Expected return to player is a payoutratio of subsequent base game enhanced by each bonus feature item 208.The Return to Player shows contribution of each bonus feature item 208to a total return to player of the Loot box Feature game 200. Inaddition, “Lose” item doesn't have an impact to base game. However, itis possible to add selling price of the “Lose” item to win amount of thesubsequent base game when the player applies the “Lose” item to thesubsequent base game. In addition, the bonus feature expected returndata table 228 is compatible with bonus feature table 136 and shows thesame Return to Player. The processor 38 may balance the selling priceand expected return to player so as to provide the same Return toPlayer. By doing so, the processor 38 implements the same Return toPlayer regardless of whether the player sells the item or the playerbrings the item to the subsequent base game.

In addition, data table 232, shown in FIG. 36 illustrates the bet amountand Return to Player of base game 202 and Loot Box feature 200. Thetotal Return to Player (RTP %) is derived from the following formula:

${{Total}\mspace{14mu}{RTP}\mspace{14mu}\%} = \frac{\begin{matrix}{{{Base}\mspace{14mu}{game}\mspace{14mu}{Bet} \times {Base}\mspace{14mu}{game}\mspace{14mu}\%} +} \\{{Loot}\mspace{14mu}{box}\mspace{14mu}{Bet} \times {Loot}\mspace{14mu}{box}\mspace{14mu}\%}\end{matrix}}{{{Base}\mspace{14mu}{game}\mspace{14mu}{Bet}} + {{Loot}\mspace{14mu}{box}\mspace{14mu}{Bet}}}$

Referring to FIG. 36 , data table 232 includes the number of loot boxchallenged, Return to Player of base game, total bet of loot box bet andbase game bet, and total Return to Player of loot box and base game.(e.g. Total Bet=Base game Bet+Loot box Bet).

In method step 306, the processor 38 receives a signal from theoperation unit 32 indicating a wager being placed on the bonus featuregame 200 by the player. For example, in one embodiment, the processor 38displays a bonus feature wager icon 234 (e.g. a “Buy” icon shown in FIG.19 ) on the bonus feature selection game screen 204 to prompt the playerto place a wager on the bonus feature selection game 200. In addition,the processor 38 displays an exit icon 236 (e.g. “Exit”) that allows theplayer to terminate the bonus feature selection game 200, and a primarygame start icon 238 (e.g. “Start”) that allows the player to initiate aninstance of the primary game 202. In response to receiving each signalindicating a wager being placed by the player, the processor 38 randomlyselects a bonus feature 208 from the plurality of bonus features 208 andmodifies the bonus feature image 206 (as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 )associated with the selected bonus feature 208 to indicate a number oftimes the corresponding bonus feature 208 has been randomly selectedduring the bonus feature selection game 200. In addition, in responsiveto randomly selecting a bonus feature 208, the processor 38 modifies thebonus feature data table 210 to increment a corresponding featurecounter 216 associated with the selected bonus feature 208.

For example, in one embodiment, upon receiving the wager, the processor38 retrieves a random number from the random number generator, accessesthe bonus feature table 136 and randomly selects one of the bonusfeatures 208 based on the corresponding selection probability 218 andthe retrieved random number. The processor 38 then displays a featureanimation 240 (shown in FIG. 20 ) on the bonus feature selection gamescreen 204 to notify the player of the selected bonus feature 208. Theprocessor 38 then modifies the bonus feature data table 210 to incrementa corresponding feature counter 216 and modifies the bonus feature image206 to increment the number of times the corresponding bonus feature 208has been randomly selected. The processor 38 also displays a totalamount bet 242 on the bonus feature selection game screen 204.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of bonus features 208includes a wild symbol bonus feature 244 (shown in FIGS. 19 and26A-26D), a multiplier bonus feature 246, a free game feature 248, and alose feature 250. The wild symbol feature 244 is associate with afeature that includes a wild symbol being randomly populated in a cellduring the primary game 202. The multiplier bonus feature 246 isassociated with a feature that multiplies an initial award provided inthe primary game 202 by a multiplier value. The free game feature 248 isassociated with a feature that awards a number of free games and/or freespins. The lose feature 250 is associated with a credit award providedduring the bonus feature selection game 200 and does not provide anyadditional feature in the primary game 202.

In one embodiment, if the processor 38 randomly selects the multiplierbonus feature 246, the processor 38 may access the multiplier featuretables 140, and randomly select a multiplier value 252 and/orprogressive probability value 254 from the multiplier feature tables140. The processor 38 then modifies the bonus feature data table 210 toinclude the selected multiplier value 252 and corresponding credit value214 included in the multiplier feature tables 140.

In method step 308, the processor 38 receives a signal from theoperation unit 32 indicating a request to terminate the bonus featureselection game 200 by the player, and prompts the player to select oneor more of the randomly selected bonus features 208 to exchange forcredit value. For example, as shown in FIG. 22 , the processor 38 mayreceive a player's selection of the exit icon 236 indicating a requestto terminate the bonus feature selection game 200. In response toreceiving the request, the processor 38 modifies the bonus featureimages 206 to include a sell icon 256 (shown in FIG. 22 ) to request anexchange of the bonus feature 208 for credits and/or a take icon 258 torequest the corresponding bonus features 208 be used during the primarygame 202.

In the illustrated embodiment, the processor 38 receives a signal fromthe operation unit 32 indicating a request to sell a previously selectedbonus feature 208 by the player, and responsive to receiving the signalindicating a request to sell a previously selected bonus feature, theprocessor 38 determines a credit value 214 of the previously selectedbonus feature 208 associated with the request to sell, and adjusts thecredit balance associated with the player based on the credit value ofthe previously selected bonus feature associated with the request tosell.

For example, as shown in FIG. 23 , upon receiving a request to terminatethe bonus feature game 200, the processor 38 modifies the bonus featureicons 206 to displays a number of each bonus feature 208 that has beenselected during the bonus feature selection game 200, based on thefeature counter 216 included in the bonus feature data table 210. Theprocessor 38 may also display a credit value 214 associated with eachbonus feature 208. The processor 38 may then receive a signal indicatinga player's selection of a sell icon 256 associated a previously selectedbonus feature 208 and responsively determine a credit value 214associated with the player selected bonus feature 208, and add thecredit value to the credit meter. The processor 38 modify the bonusfeature data table 210 to decrease a corresponding feature counter 216associated with the previously selected bonus feature 208, in responseto receiving the signal indicating the request to sell a previouslyselected bonus feature 208.

In method step 310, the processor 38 receives a signal from theoperation unit 32 indicating a player's selection of the primary gamestart icon 238, and initiates an instance of the primary game 202 usingthe selected bonus features 208. For example, upon receiving a signalfrom the player to initiate an instance of the primary game 202, theprocessor 38 retrieves the modified bonus feature data table 210, andinitiates the primary game 202 using the modified bonus feature datatable 210. The processor 38 uses the feature counters 216 to determine anumber of times each of the bonus features 208 are used during theprimary game 202.

During the primary game 202, the processor 38 initiate an instance ofthe primary game using the selected bonus features and provide a primarygame award to the player based on an outcome of the instance of theprimary game 202 and adjust a credit balance associated with the playerbased on the primary game award. In one embodiment, the processor 38 maybe programmed to adjust the credit balance associated with the playerbased on the credit value of the previously selected bonus feature afterproviding the primary game award to the player.

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 , in one embodiment, the processor 38may implement method 400 to execute the bonus feature selection game 200prior to initiating the primary game 202 and use the selected bonusfeatures 208 during the primary game 202. In another embodiment, theprocessor 38 may implement method 500 to execute the bonus featureselection game 200 upon detecting a trigger condition occurring duringthe primary game 202, and use the selected bonus features 208 during asubsequent feature game.

Referring to FIGS. 16-18 , in one embodiment, the processor 38 mayimplement methods 600, 700, and 800 to execute the bonus featureselection game 200. Prior to initiating an instance of the primary game202, the processor 38 determines whether the player has selected bonusfeature selection game icon 190 (e.g. “LBox” icon). For example, if aplayer pushes the “LBox” button before game start, the Loot box feature200 is provided by the processor 38. (“LBox” button is toggle button).The processor 38 then displays the loot box feature screen 204 after theplayer presses the start button. The processor 38 then determineswhether the player requests to buy a bonus feature 208. For example, ifthe player pushes “Buy” button, the processor 38 randomly selects abonus feature item 208 and an object appears to display the award. (e.g.Wild, Multiplayer, Free Spin or Lose). The processor 38 then allows theplayer can try to buy multiple bonus feature items 208. The processor 38also allows the player to sell the selected items for credit values 214.After the player selects “Exit”, the player can sell the redundant items(as shown in FIG. 23 , one of “Lose” item is sold at 5 credits). Theplayer may also sell additional bonus features 208 if available (e.g.“Wild”, “Multiplier” and “Free Spin” are sold at the predeterminedvalue.) Upon detecting a request to sell a previously selected bonusfeature 208, the processor 38 determines the credit value associatedwith the player selected item and adds the credit value to the creditmeter associated with the player. After pushing “Start” button, theprocessor 38 initiates the primary game 202 and the reels startspinning.

In the illustrated embodiment, the processor 38 initiates an instance ofthe primary game 202 using the bonus features 208 that have been awardedduring the bonus feature selection game 200 and have not been exchangedand/or sold by the player. In one embodiment, during the primary game202, the processor 38 randomly determines an outcome of an instance ofthe primary game 202 and spins the virtual reel strips 72 to 80 (asshown in FIGS. 26A-26D) and sequentially stops the virtual reel strips72 to 80 to display the randomly generated outcome including a gamesymbol being displayed in each cell 70 of the grid 68. For example, inone embodiment, the processor 38 may execute the algorithm 600, 700, and800 shown in FIGS. 16-18 , including receiving a signal indicating theplayer depressing the spin button and start spinning each virtual reelstrip 72 to 80, obtain random numbers from the random number generator,and determine a stop position of each virtual reel strip 72 to 80 basedon the random numbers and the stop position data file 28. In oneembodiment, the processor may obtain a random number for each simulatevirtual reel strip 72 to 80, i.e. five random numbers. The processor 38then established a reel stop counter, “i”, and sets the reel stopcounter, i, equal to x. The processor 38 then identifies the i^(th)virtual reel strip associated with the stop counter, i, and stops theidentified virtual reel strip to display the corresponding symbols inthe corresponding cells 70 associated with the identified virtual reelstrip. The processor then increments the reel stop counter, i, by x,i.e. i=i+x, and repeats the process of identifying the virtual reelstrip associated with the incremented reel stop counter and stopping theidentified virtual reel strip. This process continues until each virtualreel strip has been stopped. In this embodiment, for example, thevirtual reel strips are numbered 1-5. In one embodiment, during the reelspin, the player may initiate the stopping of the reels by depressingthe spin button, which enables the player to accelerate game play.

In one embodiment, upon receiving a signal indicating the playerdepressing the spin button, the processor may generate each virtual reelstrip 72 to 80 for use during the instance of the primary game 202. Forexample, in one embodiment, the processor 38 may execute the gameapplication program 92 using the reel layout table 132 for use ingenerating each virtual reels 72 to 80. The processor 38 may accessesthe reel layout table 132 and identify a reel designation 260 and stopposition 262 associated with the virtual reel being generated, andaccess each sequential symbol position logic cell 264 for generating anddisplaying the corresponding game symbols. The processor 38 thengenerates the corresponding virtual reel strip based on the instructionsassociated with each sequential symbol position logic cell 264,associated with the reel designation 260. In addition, the processor 38accesses the inner symbol table 138 to randomly select a symbol that ispopulated in symbol position designating a varying symbol (“inn”). Each“inn” logic cell is transformed into PicA, PicB, PicC, PicD, A, K, Q, J,10 or 9 in each game, such that each “inn” logic cell is populated withthe same symbol.

Upon stopping the virtual reel strips 72 to 80, the processor 38determines if any winning combination of symbols is displayed in theoutcome if the instance of the primary game 202, and determines aninitial award associated with the winning outcome. In one embodiment,the processor 38 detects an appearance of a winning combination of gamesymbols in the outcome based on the paylines shown in FIG. 6 , andprovides an initial award based on the winning combination of symbolsand a paytable.

In the illustrated embodiment, upon stopping the virtual reel strips 72to 80 to display the outcome of the instance of the primary game 202,the processor 38 accesses the bonus feature data table 210 to determinewhether to initiate one or more bonus features 208. The processor 38also determines a number of times to execute a corresponding bonusfeature 208 based on the feature counter 216 included in the bonusfeature data table 210.

For example, if the bonus feature data table 210 includes a featurecounter 216 value associated with the wild symbol bonus feature 244, theprocessor is programmed to initiate the instance of primary game 202using the wild symbol bonus feature by randomly selecting a stopposition for each of the plurality of virtual reels 72 to 80, spinningand stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels 72 to 80 based on acorresponding randomly selected stop position. The processor 38 thenrandomly selects a cell 70 from the plurality of cells, populates theselected cell 70 with a wild symbol 266 (shown in FIG. 26B). Theprocessor 38 randomly selects a number of cells 70 equal to the value ofthe feature counter 216. For example, if the feature counter 216includes a value equal to three, the processor 38 randomly selects threecells 70, and populates each selected cell 70 with a wild symbol 266.The processor 38 then evaluates the outcome of the instance of theprimary game 202 including the wild symbol 266. The processor 38 thenprovides the primary game award based on the outcome of the primary game202 including the wild symbol 266.

In another embodiment, if the bonus feature data table 210 includes afeature counter 216 value associated with the multiplier bonus feature246, the processor is programmed to initiate the instance of primarygame using the multiplier bonus feature by randomly selecting a stopposition for each of the plurality of virtual reels 66, spinning andstopping each of the plurality of virtual reels 66 based on acorresponding randomly selected stop position, and determining aninitial award value based on the symbols being displayed with thevirtual reels stopped. The processor 38 then determines a multipliervalue 252 associated with the multiplier bonus feature 246 based on themultiplier value table 140, and determines a primary game award bymultiplying the initial award value by the multiplier value 252. In oneembodiment, if the bonus feature data table 210 includes a featurecounter 216 value associated with the wild symbol feature 244 and themultiplier bonus feature 246, the processor 38 will execute the wildsymbol feature 244 to populate the selected cells 70 with the wildsymbols 166, determine the initial award value with the wild symbols andmultiply the initial award by the multiplier value 252. In oneembodiment, the processor 38 is programmed to implement the multiplierbonus feature 246 once during each instance of the primary game 202. Forexample, if the feature counter 216 associated with the multiplier bonusfeature 246 includes a value equal to four, the processor 38 implementsin multiplier bonus feature 246 in four sequential instances of theprimary game 202.

In one embodiment, if the bonus feature data table 210 includes afeature counter 216 value associated with the free game feature 248, theprocessor is programmed to an instance of primary game using the freegame feature by randomly generating an outcome of the primary game,spinning and stopping each of the plurality of virtual reels based onthe randomly generated outcome, and providing the primary award based onthe randomly generated outcome, then determining a number of free gamesassociated with the free game feature 248. For each of the number offree games, the processor 38 randomly generates an outcome of acorresponding free game, and spins and stops each of the plurality ofvirtual reels to display the randomly generated outcome of thecorresponding free game, and provide an award based on the randomlygenerated outcome of the corresponding free game. In one embodiment, theprocessor 38 may initiate the free game feature 248 after the wildsymbol feature 244 and multiplier bonus feature 246 have been completed.

In such an embodiment, a gaming machine 10 providing a game in the formof a slot machine is described, but this is not limited thereto, and agame in the state of poker, a video card game called black jack, bingo,keno, a wheel game and the like may be provided. Further, it is possibleto apply the present invention to a pachinko machine or a pachinko slotmachine.

In the embodiment, determining the stop position of each reel isdescribed as consecutively acquiring a random number that is usedrespectively, but the acquisition procedure of the random number is notlimited to this. For example, when the game starts, the control unit 22acquires these random numbers in a batch, and each random number may bestored in the storage area of the non-erasing memory 42 or the storage44 when power failure occurs. In this type of situation, even when apower failure and the like occurs during a game, because the controlunit 22 acquired the random number from the memory 42 or the storage 44when the game started before the power failure occurred, when resumingthe game after recovering from a power failure, the progress of the gamecan be reproduced. For example, when a game result obtaining a highpayout is formed right before a power failure occurs, the player will begreatly dissatisfied if the progress of the game is not similar afterrecovering from a power failure. However, as mentioned above when thegame starts all of the random numbers are acquired in a batch, and bysaving these random numbers in the memory 42 or the storage 44, suchgreat dissatisfaction can be avoided for the player because the progressof a game similar to before a power failure occurred can be reproducedafter recovering from a power failure.

In another embodiment, the player may initiate a game through actuationof a spin button (or other button). After initiation of the game, thecontrol unit 22 randomly determines the step position of all reels. Thecontrol unit 22 may perform the check for the trigger condition beforethe reels stop spinning, and thus has already determined the outcome ofthe game. However, the control unit 22 displays the outcome of the gamein a step by step process as discussed above.

Further, in the embodiment, a bill/ticket is displayed as game value,and received by these bill/ticket identification devices, and a formwhere a ticket is output by a printer device 30 is described, but thepresent invention is not limited to this. The game value is a conceptincluding tangible objects such as a coin, bill, medal, ticket, and thelike, or electronic data that has a value equivalent to these. Forexample, a coin is received by the coin accepter, and there may be aform where a coin is paid by a coin hopper. A player is identified andcredit that is accumulated in an account on a server is used, there maybe a form where credit is paid to an account, information of creditstored in a storage medium of a magnetic card, IC card and the like isread and used, and there may be a form where credit is paid by writingto the storage medium.

Further, in the embodiment when showing a free game provided as a bonusgame, a bonus game that uses a different virtual reel strips from aregular game may be provided. Further, there could be a provided afeature game according to a value of the random number acquired during aregular game.

Further, set conditions providing a bonus or feature game are notlimited to trigger determination or line determination, for examplethere may be a configuration providing a bonus game when the bet numbersurpasses a predetermined value. There could be a configurationproviding a bonus game according to a value of the random numberacquired during a regular game.

Exemplary embodiments of a gaming device, a gaming system, and a methodof providing an award to a player are described above in detail. Thegaming device, system, and method are not limited to the specificembodiments described herein, but rather, components of the gamingdevice and/or system and/or steps of the method may be utilizedindependently and separately from other components and/or stepsdescribed herein. For example, the gaming device may also be used incombination with other gaming systems and methods, and is not limited topractice with only the gaming device as described herein. Rather, anexemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection withmany other gaming system applications.

A controller, computing device, or computer, such as described herein,includes at least one or more processors or processing units and asystem memory. The controller typically also includes at least some formof computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation,computer readable media may include computer storage media andcommunication media. Computer storage media may include volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology that enables storage of information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includeany information delivery media. Those skilled in the art should befamiliar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included withinthe scope of computer readable media.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in theembodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is notessential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations describedherein may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, andembodiments of the invention may include additional or fewer operationsthan those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated thatexecuting or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneouslywith, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of theinvention.

In some embodiments, a processor, as described herein, includes anyprogrammable system including systems and microcontrollers, reducedinstruction set circuits (RISC), application specific integratedcircuits (ASIC), programmable logic circuits (PLC), and any othercircuit or processor capable of executing the functions describedherein. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intendedto limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Other aspects and features ofthe present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, thedisclosure, and the appended claims. The invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described within the scope of theappended claims. It should also be noted, that the steps and/orfunctions listed within the appended claims, notwithstanding the orderof which steps and/or functions are listed therein, are not limited toany specific order of operation.

Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention maybe shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenienceonly. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature ofa drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with anyfeature of any other drawing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gaming machine, comprising: a cabinet; adisplay device mounted to the cabinet; and a control unit operablycoupled to the display device, the control unit including a processorprogrammed to execute an algorithm including the steps of: displaying aprimary game on the display device including a plurality of virtualreels; spinning and stopping the virtual reels to display a firstinstance of the primary game; and initiating a loot box feature gameupon detecting a trigger condition occurring in the first instance ofthe primary game by: displaying a bonus feature selection game screenincluding a plurality of bonus features and a loot box buy icon;detecting a player's selection of the loot box buy icon and responsivelydeducting a first credit amount from a credit meter, determining acorresponding selection probability for each of the plurality of bonusfeatures, randomly selecting a first bonus feature from the plurality ofbonus features based on the corresponding selection probabilities, anddisplaying the randomly selected first bonus feature on the bonusfeature selection game screen; detecting a player's selection of therandomly selected first bonus feature indicating a request to sell therandomly selected first bonus feature and responsively determining asecond credit amount associated with the randomly selected first bonusfeature and adding the second credit amount to the credit meter;detecting a player's selection of a second bonus feature displayed onthe bonus feature selection game screen; and detecting a player'sselection of a game start icon indicating a request to initiate a secondinstance of the primary game using the player selected second bonusfeature and responsively terminating the loot box feature game andinitiating the second instance of the primary game using the playerselected second bonus feature.
 2. The gaming machine of claim 1, whereinthe processor is programmed to execute the algorithm including the stepsof: determining the second credit amount associated with the randomlyselected first bonus feature based on an expected return to player (RTP)value and the first credit amount.
 3. The gaming machine of claim 2,wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm includingthe steps of: determining the expected RTP value based on a feature RTPvalue associated with the randomly selected first bonus feature and acorresponding selection probability.
 4. The gaming machine of claim 1wherein the processor is programmed to execute the algorithm includingthe steps of: determining the plurality of bonus features to include awild symbol bonus feature and a multiplier bonus feature.
 5. The gamingmachine of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to execute thealgorithm including the steps of: displaying the randomly selected firstbonus feature including a counter indicating a number of times therandomly selected first bonus feature has been selected during the lootbox feature game.
 6. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the processoris programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of: detectinga subsequent player's selection of the loot box buy icon andresponsively deducting another first credit amount from the creditmeter, randomly selecting a another bonus feature from the plurality ofbonus features, and displaying the randomly selected another bonusfeature on the bonus feature selection game screen.
 7. A method ofoperating a gaming machine including a display device mounted to acabinet and a processor operably coupled to the display device, themethod including the processor performing an algorithm including thesteps of: displaying a primary game on the display device including aplurality of virtual reels; spinning and stopping the virtual reels todisplay a first instance of the primary game; and initiating a loot boxfeature game upon detecting a trigger condition occurring in the firstinstance of the primary game by: displaying a bonus feature selectiongame screen including a plurality of bonus features and a loot box buyicon; detecting a player's selection of the loot box buy icon andresponsively deducting a first credit amount from a credit meter,determining a corresponding selection probability for each of theplurality of bonus features, randomly selecting a first bonus featurefrom the plurality of bonus features based on the correspondingselection probabilities, and displaying the randomly selected firstbonus feature on the bonus feature selection game screen; detecting aplayer's selection of the randomly selected first bonus featureindicating a request to sell the randomly selected first bonus featureand responsively determining a second credit amount associated with therandomly selected first bonus feature and adding the second creditamount to the credit meter; detecting a player's selection of a secondbonus feature displayed on the bonus feature selection game screen; anddetecting a player's selection of a game start icon indicating a requestto initiate a second instance of the primary game using the playerselected second bonus feature and responsively terminating the loot boxfeature game and initiating the second instance of the primary gameusing the player selected second bonus feature.
 8. The method of claim7, including the processor performing the algorithm including the stepsof: determining the second credit amount associated with the randomlyselected first bonus feature based on an expected return to player (RTP)value and the first credit amount.
 9. The method of claim 8, includingthe processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:determining the expected RTP value based on a feature RTP valueassociated with the randomly selected first bonus feature and acorresponding selection probability.
 10. The method of claim 7,including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:determining the plurality of bonus features to include a wild symbolbonus feature and a multiplier bonus feature.
 11. The method of claim 7,including the processor performing the algorithm including the steps of:displaying the randomly selected first bonus feature including a counterindicating a number of times the randomly selected first bonus featurehas been selected during the loot box feature game.
 12. The method ofclaim 7, including the processor performing the algorithm including thesteps of: detecting a subsequent player's selection of the loot box buyicon and responsively deducting another first credit amount from thecredit meter, randomly selecting a another bonus feature from theplurality of bonus features, and displaying the another bonus feature onthe bonus feature selection game screen.
 13. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructionsembodied thereon to operate a gaming machine including a display devicemounted to a cabinet and a processor operably coupled to the displaydevice, when executed by the processor the computer-executableinstructions cause the processor to perform an algorithm including thesteps of: displaying a primary game on the display device including aplurality of virtual reels; spinning and stopping the virtual reels todisplay a first instance of the primary game; and initiating a loot boxfeature game upon detecting a trigger condition occurring in the firstinstance of the primary game by: displaying a bonus feature selectiongame screen including a plurality of bonus features and a loot box buyicon; detecting a player's selection of the loot box buy icon andresponsively deducting a first credit amount from a credit meter,determining a corresponding selection probability for each of theplurality of bonus features, randomly selecting a first bonus featurefrom the plurality of bonus features based on the correspondingselection probabilities, and displaying the randomly selected firstbonus feature on the bonus feature selection game screen; detecting aplayer's selection of the randomly selected first bonus featureindicating a request to sell the randomly selected first bonus featureand responsively determining a second credit amount associated with therandomly selected first bonus feature and adding the second creditamount to the credit meter; detecting a player's selection of a secondbonus feature displayed on the bonus feature selection game screen; anddetecting a player's selection of a game start icon indicating a requestto initiate a second instance of the primary game using the playerselected second bonus feature and responsively terminating the loot boxfeature game and initiating the second instance of the primary gameusing the player selected second bonus feature.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform thealgorithm including the steps of: determining the second credit amountassociated with the randomly selected first bonus feature based on anexpected return to player (RTP) value and the first credit amount. 15.The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14, whereinthe computer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform thealgorithm including the steps of: determining the expected RTP valuebased on a feature RTP value associated with the randomly selected firstbonus feature and a corresponding selection probability.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions cause the processor to perform thealgorithm including the steps of: determining the plurality of bonusfeatures to include a wild symbol bonus feature and a multiplier bonusfeature.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim13, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor toperform the algorithm including the steps of: displaying the randomlyselected first bonus feature including a counter indicating a number oftimes the randomly selected first bonus feature has been selected duringthe loot box feature game.